Saccharomyces cerevisiae-Based Molecular Tool Kit for Manipulation of Genes from Gram-Negative Bacteria

ABSTRACT A tool kit of vectors was designed to manipulate and express genes from a wide range of gram-negative species by using in vivo recombination. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can use its native recombination proteins to combine several amplicons in a single transformation step with high efficiency. We show that this technology is particularly useful for vector design. Shuttle, suicide, and expression vectors useful in a diverse group of bacteria are described and utilized. This report describes the use of these vectors to mutate clpX and clpP of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to explore their roles in biofilm formation and surface motility. Complementation of the rhamnolipid biosynthetic gene rhlB is also described. Expression vectors are used for controlled expression of genes in two pseudomonad species. To demonstrate the facility of building complicated constructs with this technique, the recombination of four PCR-generated amplicons in a single step at >80% efficiency into one of these vectors is shown. These tools can be used for genetic studies of pseudomonads and many other gram-negative bacteria.

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Trematocine, a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from the Antarctic Fish Trematomus bernacchii: Identification and Biological Activity

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9020066 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Giulia Della Pelle ◽

Giulia Perà ◽

Maria Cristina Belardinelli ◽

Marco Gerdol ◽

Martina Felli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Specific Interaction ◽

Antarctic Fish ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Wide Range ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

The Antarctic

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short peptides active against a wide range of pathogens and, therefore, they are considered a useful alternative to conventional antibiotics. We have identified a new AMP in a transcriptome derived from the Antarctic fish Trematomus bernacchii. This peptide, named Trematocine, has been investigated for its expression both at the basal level and after in vivo immunization with an endemic Antarctic bacterium (Psychrobacter sp. TAD1). Results agree with the expected behavior of a fish innate immune component, therefore we decided to synthesize the putative mature sequence of Trematocine to determine the structure, the interaction with biological membranes, and the biological activity. We showed that Trematocine folds into a α-helical structure in the presence of both zwitterionic and anionic charged vesicles. We demonstrated that Trematocine has a highly specific interaction with anionic charged vesicles and that it can kill Gram-negative bacteria, possibly via a carpet like mechanism. Moreover, Trematocine showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria similar to other AMPs isolated from Antarctic fishes. The peptide is a possible candidate for a new drug as it does not show any haemolytic or cytotoxic activity against mammalian cells at the concentration needed to kill the tested bacteria.

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The outer membrane proteins OmpA, FhuA, OmpF, EstA, BtuB and OmpX have unique lipopolysaccharide fingerprints

10.1101/448274 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan Shearer ◽

Damien Jefferies ◽

Syma Khalid

Keyword(s):

Outer Membrane ◽

Outer Membrane Proteins ◽

Coarse Grain ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Unique Pattern ◽

E Coli ◽

Outer Leaflet ◽

Wide Range

AbstractThe outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria has a highly complex asymmetrical architecture, containing a mixture of phospholipids in the inner leaflet and in the outer leaflet they contain almost exclusively lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules. In E. coli, the outer membrane contains a wide range proteins with a beta barrel architecture, that vary in size from the smallest having eight strands to larger barrels composed of twenty-two strands. Here we report coarse-grain molecular dynamics simulations of six proteins from the E. coli outer membrane OmpA, OmpX, BtuB, FhuA, OmpF and EstA in a range of membrane environments, which are representative of the in vivo for different strains of E. coli. We show that each protein has a unique pattern of interaction with the surrounding membrane, which is influenced by the composition of the protein, the level of LPS in the outer leaflet and the differing mobilities of the lipids in the two leaflets of the membrane. Overall we present analyses from over 200 microseconds of simulation for each protein.Author summaryWe present data from over 200 microseconds of coarse-grain simulations that show the complexities of protein-lipid interactions within the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. We show that the slow movement of lipolysaccharide molecules necessitate simulations of over 30 microsecond duration to achieve converged properties such as protein tilt angle. Each of the six proteins studied here shows a unique pattern of interactions with the outer membrane and thus constitute a ‘fingerprint’ or ‘signature’.

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The antimicrobial potential of cannabidiol

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-020-01530-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mark A. T. Blaskovich ◽

Angela M. Kavanagh ◽

Alysha G. Elliott ◽

Bing Zhang ◽

Soumya Ramu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Modern Medicine ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

New Class ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Excellent Activity ◽

Induce Resistance ◽

First Time

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance threatens the viability of modern medicine, which is largely dependent on the successful prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, there are few new therapeutics in the clinical pipeline, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria. We now present a detailed evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of cannabidiol, the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis. We confirm previous reports of Gram-positive activity and expand the breadth of pathogens tested, including highly resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Clostridioides difficile. Our results demonstrate that cannabidiol has excellent activity against biofilms, little propensity to induce resistance, and topical in vivo efficacy. Multiple mode-of-action studies point to membrane disruption as cannabidiol’s primary mechanism. More importantly, we now report for the first time that cannabidiol can selectively kill a subset of Gram-negative bacteria that includes the ‘urgent threat’ pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Structure-activity relationship studies demonstrate the potential to advance cannabidiol analogs as a much-needed new class of antibiotics.

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Animal Models in the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Phage Therapy for Infections Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria from the ESKAPE Group and the Reliability of Its Use in Humans

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 206

Author(s):

Martyna Cieślik ◽

Natalia Bagińska ◽

Andrzej Górski ◽

Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Phage Therapy ◽

Animal Experiments ◽

Species Group ◽

Effectiveness Evaluation ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Enterobacter Species ◽

The Individual

The authors emphasize how extremely important it is to highlight the role played by animal models in an attempt to determine possible phage interactions with the organism into which it was introduced as well as to determine the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy in vivo taking into account the individual conditions of a given organism and its physiology. Animal models in which phages are used make it possible, among other things, to evaluate the effective therapeutic dose and to choose the possible route of phage administration depending on the type of infection developed. These results cannot be applied in detail to the human body, but the knowledge gained from animal experiments is invaluable and very helpful. We would like to highlight how useful animal models may be for the possible effectiveness evaluation of phage therapy in the case of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria from the ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species) group of pathogens. In this review, we focus specifically on the data from the last few years.

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In Vitro and In Vivo Antibacterial Activities of DW-224a, a New Fluoronaphthyridone

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01407-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 2261-2264 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Hee-Soo Park ◽

Hyun-Joo Kim ◽

Min-Jung Seol ◽

Dong-Rack Choi ◽

Eung-Chil Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibacterial Activities ◽

The Other ◽

Vitro Activity ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

In Vitro Activity ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Gram Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACT DW-224a showed the most potent in vitro activity among the quinolone compounds tested against clinical isolates of gram-positive bacteria. Against gram-negative bacteria, DW-224a was slightly less active than the other fluoroquinolones. The in vivo activities of DW-224a against gram-positive bacteria were more potent than those of other quinolones.

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Combinatorial Synthesis of Novel 3/5(3,5)-(Di)nitro/chloropaeonol Carbonyl Hydrazone Derivatives as Nematicidal Agents

Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening ◽

10.2174/1386207324666210324145627 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

Author(s):

Genqiang Chen ◽

Lina Zhu ◽

Yanfei Xia ◽

Jinming Yang ◽

Song Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Efficiency ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Science Research ◽

Nematicidal Activity ◽

Effective Control ◽

Root Bark ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Wide Range

Background: Developing the high-efficiency and low-risk small-molecule green-nematocide is the key of effective control of the nematodes. Paeonol, is a naturally occurring phenolic compound, isolated from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa and the whole plant of Cynanchum paniculatum. Due to its crucial phenolic ketone skeleton, modern biological science research has indicated that paeonol has a wide range of biological activities. The structural modification of paeonol into paeonol carbonyl hydrazone derivatives is a potential approach for the development of novel nematodes, which showed more toxicity than paeonol. However, there are no reports on the nematicidal activity of paeonol carbonyl hydrazone derivatives to control Heterodera glycines. Results: We always endeavor to discover and develop biorational natural products-based pesticidal agents, 4 significant intermediates and 21 novel 3/5(3,5)-(di)nitro/chloropaeonol carbonyl hydrazone derivatives were prepared, and their structures well characterized by 1H NMR, HRMS, MS, and mp. Due to the steric hindrance, the substituents on the C=N double bond of all hydrazine compounds adopted E configuration. Results of nematicidal activity revealed that, among all compounds, especially 5-nitropaeonol (5) and 3,5-dinitropaeonol (7) displayed the most potent nematicidal activity H. glycines in vivo with LC50 values of 0.0323 and 0.0367 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: It suggested that for the 3/5(3,5)-(di)nitro/chloropaeonol carbonyl hydrazone derivatives, a nitro group introduced at C5 position of 1 was necessary for obtaining the potent compound as nematicidal agents. These preliminary results will pave the way for further modification of paeonol in the development of potential new nematicides.

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Cefotaxime and amikacin: results of in vitro and in vivo studies against Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy ◽

10.1093/jac/6.suppl_a.55 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 6 (suppl A) ◽

pp. 55-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Klastersky ◽

H. Gaya ◽

S. H. Zinner ◽

C. Bernard ◽

J-C. Ryff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

And Staphylococcus Aureus

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Structural insights into a novel family of integral membrane siderophore reductases

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2101952118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (34) ◽

pp. e2101952118

Author(s):

Inokentijs Josts ◽

Katharina Veith ◽

Vincent Normant ◽

Isabelle J. Schalk ◽

Henning Tidow

Keyword(s):

Iron Uptake ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Inner Membrane ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Inner Membrane Protein ◽

Uptake Studies ◽

Structural Insights

Gram-negative bacteria take up the essential ion Fe3+ as ferric-siderophore complexes through their outer membrane using TonB-dependent transporters. However, the subsequent route through the inner membrane differs across many bacterial species and siderophore chemistries and is not understood in detail. Here, we report the crystal structure of the inner membrane protein FoxB (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that is involved in Fe-siderophore uptake. The structure revealed a fold with two tightly bound heme molecules. In combination with in vitro reduction assays and in vivo iron uptake studies, these results establish FoxB as an inner membrane reductase involved in the release of iron from ferrioxamine during Fe-siderophore uptake.

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Synergy and remarkable specificity of antimicrobial peptides in vivo using a systematic knockout approach

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.44341 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Mark Austin Hanson ◽

Anna Dostálová ◽

Camilla Ceroni ◽

Mickael Poidevin ◽

Shu Kondo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Cationic Peptides ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Biological Processes ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Bacteria And Fungi

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are host-encoded antibiotics that combat invading microorganisms. These short, cationic peptides have been implicated in many biological processes, primarily involving innate immunity. In vitro studies have shown AMPs kill bacteria and fungi at physiological concentrations, but little validation has been done in vivo. We utilized CRISPR gene editing to delete most known immune-inducible AMPs of Drosophila, namely: 4 Attacins, 2 Diptericins, Drosocin, Drosomycin, Metchnikowin and Defensin. Using individual and multiple knockouts, including flies lacking these ten AMP genes, we characterize the in vivo function of individual and groups of AMPs against diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens. We found that Drosophila AMPs act primarily against Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, contributing either additively or synergistically. We also describe remarkable specificity wherein certain AMPs contribute the bulk of microbicidal activity against specific pathogens, providing functional demonstrations of highly specific AMP-pathogen interactions in an in vivo setting.

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Reversion of antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant pathogens using non-antibiotic pharmaceutical benzydamine

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02854-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuan Liu ◽

Ziwen Tong ◽

Jingru Shi ◽

Yuqian Jia ◽

Tian Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Treatment Regimens ◽

Development Of Resistance ◽

Metabolic States ◽

Animal Infection ◽

Life Threatening

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance has been a growing concern that gradually undermines our tradition treatment regimens. The fact that few antibacterial drugs with new scaffolds or targets have been approved in the past two decades aggravates this crisis. Repurposing drugs as potent antibiotic adjuvants offers a cost-effective strategy to mitigate the development of resistance and tackle the increasing infections by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Herein, we found that benzydamine, a widely used non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug in clinic, remarkably potentiated broad-spectrum antibiotic-tetracyclines activity against a panel of clinically important pathogens, including MRSA, VRE, MCRPEC and tet(X)-positive Gram-negative bacteria. Mechanistic studies showed that benzydamine dissipated membrane potential (▵Ψ) in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which in turn upregulated the transmembrane proton gradient (▵pH) and promoted the uptake of tetracyclines. Additionally, benzydamine exacerbated the oxidative stress by triggering the production of ROS and suppressing GAD system-mediated oxidative defensive. This mode of action explains the great bactericidal activity of the doxycycline-benzydamine combination against different metabolic states of bacteria involve persister cells. As a proof-of-concept, the in vivo efficacy of this drug combination was evidenced in multiple animal infection models. These findings indicate that benzydamine is a potential tetracyclines adjuvant to address life-threatening infections by MDR bacteria.

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